Our Executive Management Group

Our Executive Management Group (EMG) is made up of five executives who oversee the strategic direction and management of over $39 billion in funds as at 31 March 2024.

The EMG is led by our Chief Executive Officer. It is the EMG's responsibility, with the help of our Board Secretary, to:

• Lead our day-to-day management
• Provide insights and advice to the Board

EMG members undertake continuous education, ensuring that they maintain the educational and technical skills needed to effectively carry out their roles in a knowledgeable and prudent manner.

Our Executive Management Group members

Ben Palmer - Chief Executive Officer

Ben was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on 4 July 2018 for a period of three years. He was reappointed on 4 July 2021 for a further five years.

Ben is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the organisation and is accountable for achieving our strategic, business, policy and budget objectives, and for compliance with legislative requirements. Formerly our General Manager, Investments, Ben was also our Acting CEO from 30 January 2017 for six months and from 1 February 2018 for a further five months.

Ben has over 16 years' experience across the superannuation and investment management professions. Before joining us, Ben spent eight years with Schroders in London, more recently as Head of Portfolio Management for the group's UK private wealth business, and previously as Asset Allocation Strategist specialising in the not-for-profit sector.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, and completed a Certified Investment Management Analyst qualification in 2013. He joined us in December 2012.

Karen Horne - Chief Operating Officer

Karen provides overall leadership for the delivery of our strategic and operational member experience, key account management, business analysis and legal services. She also holds executive responsibility for overseeing our administration services contract and digital service providers.

Karen previously held the roles of General Manager, Superannuation Services and Head of Business Development, and was also our Acting CEO for six months in 2017. Before joining us in 2006, she held senior management roles with a number of organisations in both the super and financial services sectors.

Karen has a Masters of Future Studies, a Diploma of Financial Services, a Diploma of Insurance, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Melissa Haddleton – Chief Finance Officer

Melissa provides leadership and strategic direction and has overall responsibility for our Finance, Tax, Procurement and Investment Operations areas.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Taxation and is a current professional member of CPA Australia.

Melissa has over 20 years of experience in financial services and has held a number of senior finance positions within GESB since she joined us in 2007. She previously worked for Bankwest in the areas of financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting.

Melissa is a member of our working group against modern slavery, which aims to help us identify risks within our operations, supply chain and investments.

Paul Taylor - Chief Investment Officer

Paul leads our Investment team and has overall responsibility for investment governance, investment strategy, asset allocation, portfolio construction and investment monitoring.

He has over 20 years of investment experience with superannuation funds and other institutional investors.

Before joining us in 2019, Paul spent four years with Willis Towers Watson, most recently as their Head of Asset Consulting in Australia.

He previously worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he led their institutional investment advisory practice, and an investment consultancy firm in London, where he was Head of Investment Manager Research.

Paul is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Computer and Mathematical Science (Statistics and Economics).

Natalie Skeggs - Chief Strategy and Member Experience Officer

Natalie is responsible for facilitating development of our corporate strategy and our member advocacy program to deliver positive member outcomes and experience across all channels.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the super industry and has been leading GESB’s strategic development, product and brand management and member engagement operations in a range of senior management roles since 2000. Natalie has led the Strategy and Member Experience team since 2014.

Natalie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma in Dietetics, Masters in Public Health and a Graduate Diploma in Financial Services. She recently completed the CEDA Copland Leadership Program for emerging leaders from corporate, government, academic and community sectors.

Lucia Barrett - Board Secretary

Lucia is our Board Secretary and General Counsel. She has been working across the legal and tax professions for the past 16 years.

She has extensive experience having held various legal and tax positions, and previously worked for a large financial institution and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Lucia has a double degree in Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Banking and Finance) from Murdoch University.

Lucia joined us in 2008.